TrueRevivalFires
End Time Events Page

Book of Revelation Overview

Information is compiled by TrueRevivalFires@aol.com

The Lord has given me vital keys to understanding
the book of Revelation, particularly the meaning of the seven
seals.

Of all the books in the Bible, the book of Revelation is
one of the most difficult to understand. Consequently, there are
a wide variety of interpretations about the meaning of the book,
particularly in the traditional Christian world.

Yet the book of Revelation need not remain closed, at least
for Saints who accept ancient revelation. I feel, The book
of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be
written.

With that as our basis, then, lets take a look at
Revelation as seen in the light of rest of scriptures. The first
four chapters of Revelation are introductory, containing counsel
to the ancient branches of the Church and setting the stage for
the vision John is to be given. There is much to learn from these
chapters, but because they do not focus on the vision of the
Seven Seals, we will not discuss them here. In Revelation chapter
5 a book is introduced, and that book is the basis of the
remaining seventeen chapters of Revelation.

Why is the book important? It contains, in essence, Gods
record concerning this earth during the seven thousand
years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.

Even so, the book is never opened or read in Revelation, but
it has seven seals that are removed one by one. And what do the
seals represent? The first seal contains the things of the
first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand
years, and so on until the seventh."

When the first seal is opened in the beginning verses of
Revelation 6, there is shown to John an important occurrence from
the first thousand years after the Fall. The Bible dictionary of
edition of the King James Bible places the Fall near 4000 B.C.
(See Bible Dictionary, p. 635.) When the second seal is opened in
the subsequent verses, John is shown something about the second
thousand years. And so on through the first four seals. The fifth
seal information presented to John represents both a time period
and some events of which John knew a great deal. The Apostle is
shown a representation of those who were slain for the word
of God after the opening of the fifth seal. (Rev. 6:9.)

For us, however, it is not until the sixth seal is opened
(beginning at Rev.
6:12) that we begin to deal with events yet to occur. The
sixth seal covers the sixth thousand year period, which generally
would be about 1000 A.D. to 2000 A.D.

When we come to Revelation 8, we begin to read of the seventh
seal, or the seventh thousand years of the earths temporal
existence. During the early part of this period is when judgments
come upon the earth in a final attempt to turn mankinds
heart to God; it will be sometime early in this periodhow
early is unspecifiedwhen at last the earth will be
cleansed, Christ will return, and the Millennium will begin.;
note the clear reference to both a time period and events to
occur after the opening of the seventh seal but before the
time of the Second Coming.) The description of those seventh seal
events fills most of the remainder of the book.

Following is a discussion of the main events of Johns
revelation, in the order in which John describes them. We should
note that we do not know if John saw certain of the events in the
exact order in which they will occur, or if some events will
overlap or occur simultaneously. We purposely give very little
interpretation of Johns metaphors, except as is made
available in the Book of Revelation. But the presentation, added
to the explanations from D&C 77, should help clarify the
central scope and message of the book of Revelation.

Revelations
Seven Seals

Johns seven seals give an overview of the seven thousand
years of earths temporal existence, as follows:

Six of seven trumps now sound, signaling six coming judgments
on the earth: (1) hail and fire mingled with blood are cast upon
the earth (cf. Ex.
9:22-26; Ezek.
38:22); (2) a great burning mountain is cast into the sea
(cf. Ex.
7:19-25); (3) a great star falls, affecting 1/3 of fresh
water; (4) 1/3 of heavenly bodies turn dark (cf. Ex. 10:21-23);
(5) sun is darkened by smoke; 5-month battle plagues mankind, of
such extent it is called a woe; (6) a 13-month war
plagues mankind, but men still dont repent, suggesting
clearly the purposes for the judgments of God.

John sees the gentiles tread Jerusalem under
foot for 42 months. During that same period two witnesses
of the Lord testify with great power. The period ends with an
earthquake. Conditions now are such that the period is called a
second woe.

To prepare John to understand the final events that are to
occur, he is given an overview of the opposition between the
kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. The voices in heaven
announce the coming triumph of the kingdom of God. This kingdom
and its great Satanic counterpart are shown to John in some
detail. (Rev. 12, Rev. 13, Rev. 14)

The Church and Kingdom of God

1. John sees a woman, the church (the ecclesiastical aspect of
the kingdom), bring forth the kingdom over which Christ reigns as
king (the political aspect of the kingdom). (See JST, Rev.
12:1-3, 7.)

2. John sees that the church and kingdom of God are opposed by
the great dragon (Satan) and are taken away for many years. (JST,
Rev. 12:4-5.)

3. John sees that this opposition actually began in the
premortal existence and caused war in heaven. (JST, Rev. 12:6-12.)

4. John sees that the church of his time would not bring forth
the kingdom but would be driven into the wilderness (apostasy) by
the dragon. (Rev. 12:13-17)

The Church and Kingdom of Satan

1. John sees a beast in the likeness of the kingdoms of
the earth (Rev. 13:1

) come from the sea. He is shown that
Satan has power over earthly kingdoms (the political aspects of
his kingdom) and that this beast made war with the Saints and
overcame them, referring to the events of the Great Apostasy. (Rev. 13:1-10.)

2. John sees another beast, one that exercises great evil
through religious power (the ecclesiastical aspects of his
kingdom). The followers of this beast are sealed in their
foreheads to mark their allegiance. Satan works many miracles and
deceives much of mankind. (Rev. 13:11-18.)

The Victory

1. Having been shown Satans power on earth, John is now
shown the power that will overthrow it. He sees the Lamb on Mount
Zion with 144,000 special ministers of the gospel. (Rev. 14:1-5.)

2. John sees the angelic ministration of the gospel, which has
the power to end Satans dominion. (Rev. 14:6-7.)

3. John sees the Son of Man in heaven with the sickle and
winepress. The great harvest (judgment) of the wicked is soon to
begin. (Rev.
14:8-20.)

(1) A sore on the wicked (cf. Zech. 14:12);
(2) sea becomes as blood; (3) fresh waters become as blood; (4)
sun scorches men with great heat; (5) the Beasts kingdom
fills with darkness, and men gnaw tongues for pain and blaspheme
God because of sores; (6) three great evil spirits influence men
to battle at Armageddon (see also Ezek. 38-39; Joel 3:12-14;
Zech. 12-14); (7)
a voice from heaven says It is done. There are
voices, thunders, lightnings, and the greatest earthquake in
earths history; cities of nations fall; islands flee, and
mountains are leveled; a great plague of hail.

At this point, John is once again given additional background
on Satans kingdom which puts into perspective the next
events he will be shown. An angel describes a great whore, with
whom people of the earth have committed spiritual fornication.
This whore is the Satanic counterpart of the woman in chapter 12,
which is the church of Christ. John learns that this great whore
sits on many waters, which represent the peoples of the earth
(see Rev. 17:1, 15);
sits on the head of a beast, or earthly kingdom which is full of
names of blasphemy (see Rev. 17:3); and
is drunken with the blood of the saints (see Rev. 17:6). Many
earthly kingdoms are associated with her and will give their
power to the beast and make war with the Lamb. (See Rev. 17:7-18.)
NOTE: Nephi had a similar vision.

An angel proclaims the fall of Babylon (which symbolizes the
sin and wickedness of the world, as well as those who partake of
it). Babylon is to be destroyed by plagues, famine, and fire; her
wicked supporters will mourn her loss. The Saints are called
out of Babylon, that they might receive not of
her plagues.

The earth passes away, and there is a new heaven and a new
earth. A celestial city descends from heaven to be on earth. The
righteous dwell forever in peace and joy.

After reading Book of Revelation Overview, you
may wish to consider some of the following questions:

1. The Lord has given many of his prophets great views of
things to comeincluding Enoch, Isaiah, Nephi, John the
Revelator. What might be some of the reasons the Lord tells us of
the future events? How does that information help us in our
lives?

2. In chapters 12 through 14, John gives an overview of the
great opposition between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of
Satan. What evidences of that opposition can we see in the world
today? What role must each Latter-day Saint play in building the
kingdom of God?

3. The chapters of Revelation record a number of judgments
that will come upon the inhabitants of earth. What are the
purposes of these judgments? How will judgments help the people
of the earth make a stronger commitment to God, if they choose to
repent?

4. With the knowledge the Lord has given us about the
difficult events to come, how can we prepare ourselves temporally
and spiritually? What guidance have latter-day prophets given us
about preparedness?